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People who rake the leaves

conorh91

Maybe it's because I'm from the countryside that I just don't understand these people.

The mizzling of leaves on your lawn during Autumn is a perfectly natural occurance. Leaves are not litter. There's no need for these anti-Autumn drills by middle-class families, conscripting entire armies of children across lawns and grassy verges with rakes and leaf-blowers and wheelbarrows, removing Nature's gentle reminder of the passing of summertime.

I almost feel a little guilty for leaving the lawn strewn with leaves, whilst all around me, these people are eradicating Autumn.

Why do people do this? It's Autumn for God's sake. Red, orange and brown leaves flecking pavements and gardens are a perfectly pleasant sight.

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Autonomous

conorh91 wrote: »

Maybe it's because I'm from the countryside that I just don't understand these people.

The mizzling of leaves on your lawn during Autumn is a perfectly natural occurance. Leaves are not litter. There's no need for these anti-Autumn drills by middle-class families, conscripting entire armies of children across lawns and grassy verges with rakes and leaf-blowers and wheelbarrows, removing Nature's gentle reminder of the passing of summertime.

I almost feel a little guilty for leaving the lawn strewn with leaves, whilst all around me, these people are eradicating Autumn.

Why do people do this? It's Autumn for God's sake. Red, orange and brown leaves flecking pavements and gardens are a perfectly pleasant sight.

The grass dies underneath the leaves.

Jellybaby1

We tend to leave them alone until they blow away (to someone else's garden usually

). Some of my neighbours just can't abide untidiness. But the main reason I think people clear them is that they bung up the drains.

Edit: "middle-class" - ridiculous!

kneemos

Self fertilisation innit.Just don't try to burn the things and stink up the place for the day.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I'm living in the countryside all my life and I rake leaves constantly at this time of year. They kill the grass if they lie on it and can spread disease to grass and perennial plant borders as well. They are slippery if wet on pathways. All go to compost once collected.
Oh and I'm not middle class - I don't get where the notion that only middle class people rake leaves came from.

whatdoicare

If you don't sweep them up they block the shore holes and the next time it rains you'll have flooding and blockages.

[Deleted User]

Avalyn High Sweatshop wrote: »

I'm living in the countryside all my life and I rake leaves constantly at this time of year. They kill the grass if they lie a couple on it and can spread disease to grass and perennial plant borders as well. They are slippery if wet on pathways. All go to compost once collected.
Oh and I'm not middle class - I don't get where the notion that only middle class people rake leaves came from.

Also, moss grows under a bed of leaves. Moss is bad.

bennyineire

Never raked leaves in my house which is surrounded by loads of trees and my grass is just the finest. Ain't nobody got time for that

Tail Docker

Rakes are for cissies. Backpack blowers are the bomb.

conorh91

Avalyn High Sweatshop wrote: »

I'm living in the countryside all my life and I rake leaves constantly at this time of year. They kill the grass if they lie a couple on it and can spread disease to grass and perennial plant borders as well.

I would like to see some evidence of the supposed threat to the environment from fallen leaves, since I've long been sceptical, and some gardeners posit that the theory is without any scientific basis

http://www.finegardening.com/improve-your-soil-raking-less

My reference to the countryside was simply that, as country folk, we don't expect lush green pastures all year round. We expect a constant cyle of death and renewal, just like we expect brown, leafy lawns in Autumn. I really don't buy into this theory that raking is good for the garden.

In nature, nobody rakes leaves, and yet the unspoiled countryside is the most vibrant, dynamic environment that many of us seek to replicate.

The Purveyor of Truth

"Never rake the leaves. Rakes of leaves are beautiful. Leave the leaves. Rake the rakes" - Anon*.

It was me that said this but I'd rather remain anonymous if that's alright with yerselves.

Sh1tbag OToole

I wouldnt bother to rake them off the grass but if you leave them on concrete they turn into a pack of slippery mush

Ihatecuddles

There are some brown leaves on the ground outside my estate, I nearly slipped on them today. They weren't wet or anything so I thought it was strange.

Fr_Dougal

Oh to live at home with the parents and not have to worry about keeping the place tidy.

Sh1tbag OToole

mauzo! wrote: »

There are some brown leaves on the ground outside my estate, I nearly slipped on them today. They weren't wet or anything so I thought it was strange.

You (or someone who is out to get you) must have temporarily injected a load of moisture into them via telekinesis just as you were going over them and taken it back out.

Either that or a neighbour is breeding or genetically engineering trees with extra slippery leaves to pass the time

Gandhi

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

You (or someone who is out to get you) must have temporarily injected a load of moisture into them via telekinesis just as you were going over them and taken it back out.

Either that or a neighbour is breeding or genetically engineering trees with extra slippery leaves to pass the time

Or they are the special smelly leaves that fall out of dogs' bottoms.

Lyaiera

This thread is a living example of people living the Irish Dream.

Electric Sheep

TheZohan wrote: »

Oh to live at home with the parents and not have to worry about keeping the place tidy.

If you were any son of mine and living at home I'd have you out there raking those leaves:mad::pac:

SeaFields

I would like to point out that the leaf blower is the most pointless power tool of all time. I just don't get it.

Sh1tbag OToole

SeaFields wrote: »

I would like to point out that the leaf blower is the most pointless power tool of all time. I just don't get it.

I agree and I own one of these contraptions. All I really use it for is blowing the dust out the shed. As far as I can tell its main purpose is to make the user think they are doing something useful to keep the place tidy when they are in fact just passing the time.

There used to be a school near me where no matter what time of the year several times a week there would be a caretaker out with one of these things blowing a few crumbs around the place in the morning. Maybe a child once slipped over a leaf and threatened with legal action as south-Dublin based parents often would - its all about laws and insurance with them lot. The wind was always quick enough to blow the few crumbs and the odd stray leaf back into place

catallus

Raking leaves is bad for the environment because when the leaves fall they cover the ground to keep the heat in and if you rake them up the heat escapes into the air during the winter.

But they do clog up drains sometimes, causing the water well up, so there's that too.

Micky Dolenz

I never have leaves on the grounds. My gardener must take care of it or one of the other staff.

K.C

SeaFields wrote: »

I would like to point out that the leaf blower is the most pointless power tool of all time. I just don't get it.

You bet me to it, totally agree. Lets blow stuff from one place to another just so it can blow back agin.

anncoates

Walking along the pavement once through piles of leaves and my friend stepped on a huge rat

Rake the fcukers I say.

Fat Christy

I love the leaves, I wouldn't rake them in a fit. I think they're beautiful.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

conorh91 wrote: »

I would like to see some evidence of the supposed threat to the environment from fallen leaves, since I've long been sceptical, and some gardeners posit that the theory is without any scientific basis

http://www.finegardening.com/improve-your-soil-raking-less

My reference to the countryside was simply that, as country folk, we don't expect lush green pastures all year round. We expect a constant cyle of death and renewal, just like we expect brown, leafy lawns in Autumn. I really don't buy into this theory that raking is good for the garden.

In nature, nobody rakes leaves, and yet the unspoiled countryside is the most vibrant, dynamic environment that many of us seek to replicate.

A few things here. Firstly that item advocates mowing (shredding) leaves into the lawn. This is not leaving lawns strewn with full leaves that block light and is an accepted alternative to raking if the mower will mulch the keaves sufficiently. It also uses leaves as a mulch but this is only appropriate or suitable for certain plant types. As for your speaking for "we country folk" well all I can say is speak for yourself, as this country person and any he knows wants a lawn that is healthy at all times. We are talking tended shorn lawns here and not our pasture land. The unspoiled countryside is not a managed domestic lawn. The lawn has different grasses for one (but as a country person you will be familiar with that). Even in nature grasses near trees is weaker, coarser and often denuded completely. As for country people expecting death and renewal; I'm sorry but that is just hyperbole.
Anyway, that's me done. I have gardened for over 50 years, spent my 20 years prior to that learning from my grandfather (also a county person) who was a professional gardener and I also keep a wildlife friendly natural meadow beside my 2 acre native wood. I know what a lawn needs in autumn and suspect you're just playing devil's advocate to which I'm not rising.

groucho marx

First raking the leafs and then it turns into walking up and down the street salting the sidewalks,the salt turns the bodies into mummies

Sh1tbag OToole

groucho marx wrote: »

First raking the leafs and then it turns into walking up and down the street salting the sidewalks,the salt turns the bodies into mummies

Go back to the states with your feckin sidewalks :P

Ol' Donie

The Purveyor of Truth wrote: »

"Never rake the leaves. Rakes of leaves are beautiful. Leave the leaves. Rake the rakes" - Anon*.

It was me that said this but I'd rather remain anonymous if that's alright with yerselves.

Words of wisdom, and no mistake.

Rake the rakes. All of them.

Think about it.

Lucy and Harry

What will the fairies wear if you sweep away the leaves

anncoates

Lucy and Harry wrote: »

What will the fairies wear if you sweep away the leaves

Skinny jeans?